No color, no politico, no party

IT seems important to tell this story: I have been to enough rallies in my life, mostly as a student at the State U, and then as a teacher at AdMU. I would join–as my politics would dictate–the rallies of the militant Left throughout the Ramos, Erap, and GMA administrations, from State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) to anti-Erap rallies, EDSA Dos to GMA’s declaration of a state of national emergency via Proclamation 1017.

During PNoy’s presidency, I went to organizational meetings for that huge anti-pork barrel rally at the Luneta. I went as an individual, representing no one but myself. At that point I was already an independent writer, maintaining this column and my blog, and there I was, with people who were only Facebook contacts, and whose politics would otherwise clash with mine.

But with the issue of the pork barrel, we were mostly united–save for one or two who were ready to forgive government the moment they declared the pork barrel abolished, which they announced some days before the scheduled rally. It was clear that it sought to weaken the united front that was a broad coalition of groups–left, right, center.

That combination was of course replete with many-a-stereotyping (mostly of the militant Left organizations which were generally baseless and unfair), and a whole lot of negotiations about what could, should, would be done. Regardless, a majority believed the announced pork barrel abolition was nothing but government strategy. The rally pushed through as planned.

It seems important to tell this story because over the weekend and throughout this week, we have seen the different faces of the same strategy trying to wreak havoc on the unities we have forged, putting into question the rallies we have attended, against the Marcoses and against President Duterte”s decision to pay a debt of gratitude to the late dictator’s family.

At the heart of the strategy is a simple concept: divide and conquer. And in the age of social media noise, troll discourse, and like-conscious commentary, it is easy to get lost in the ruckus.

Strategy #1: Categorizing by color, party
Realize that those who divide us come from any group at all. The easier ones to spot are those from the fandom of President Duterte or the loyalists of the Marcoses. Others are a little more difficult to recognize because these come from the groups we actually went to a rally with, or someone who holds some amount of credibility on the premise of objectivity.

The strategies are easier to spot than the people who use it.

Strategy #1: Dismiss the anti-Marcos protests as merely about colors and political parties.

While it is true that there are colors and political parties here, realize that there is no one color or political party that is in control of your decision to come out into the streets to register your rage against the President’s decision to bury Marcos the dictator at the heroes’ cemetery.

That you go to any and every rally against the Marcos burial does not make you any color that you are not. Neither does it mean you are loyal to the party or politicos who might hold the program at the rally. It only means that regardless of color or party, you are with this fight against the Marcoses and their control over our politics and government, via their tried and tested loyalists, such as President Duterte.

We protest to call out President Duterte on his blind loyalty to the Marcoses, and his dismissal of what has already been historically written and proven to have been a dark, dark time for the nation and our freedoms. That stand is beyond colors and political parties. It is just you, as individual citizen, fighting for what is right.

Strategy #2: Divisiveness
Where the previous strategy actually comes from those who are clearly out to discredit the rallies, i.e., Mocha and many Duterte devotees, this next strategy comes from those who are with us in the anti-Marcos fight, but who insist that only one group is the legitimate anti-Marcos group. This was revealed by the Leah Navarro text message that circulated November 21; more messages like this were made known November 22.

What these messages spread is the idea that there is only one “valid” or “legitimate” anti-Marcos rally. It spreads rumors about the militant Left organizations that have organized the November 25 rally by saying that they are in fact pro-Duterte and anti-PNoy, and that the rally will turn out violent.

None of this is true. In fact, none of it makes sense. If the rally is pro-Duterte, why would it end with violence? And if it’s anti-PNoy, why would organizers already highlight that tomorrow’s Black Friday rally at the Luneta won’t only be a National Day of Unity and Rage against the Marcos burial, but also against President Duterte’s alliance with the Marcoses?

Here’s the thing with rumors: they just add to the noise. And right now, getting lost in the noise and being fooled into believing all this divisive talk, just weakens us and stands in the way of building on the issues that unite us.

Sure, you can stick to the groups that you are comfortable with, but even thatwould be to feed the divide that President Duterte and the Marcoses are banking on. The more warm bodies there are, the better. The more consistently we protest, the more they are forced to contend with our rage against this state of Marcosian affairs.

I say join a rally as often as you can. Remain critical of the groups that organize these rallies, call them out on slogans, chants you do not agree with. But be there. Engage. It’s the only way we might understand better the breadth, scope, depth of the Marcosian politics that we face.

If there’s one criticism I agree with, it’s that this is also our fault for having let the Marcoses get away with murder the past 30 years since EDSA 1986. But admitting that mistake does not erase the value of protest at this point in time. We can continue to read, study, analyze what it is we have done wrong, even as we must see that we are in fact doing something right, and we are doing it right now: the fact that we are being divided is telling of how a united citizenry is reason for fear.

23 Comments

I noticed two two types of journalists on the Manila Times, those like you and Saguisag who placed legitimacy of your arguments on your nostalgia as militants and joining rallies, and the other kind like Tiglao who uncover history’s fascinating hidden unbiased truths through honest research.

I wish some writer would trace the origin of guns during the martial law years to find evidence that Marcos faced great threats that forced him to declare martial law. First the Chinese communists cloned a hundred thousand US M14 rifles intended for RP guerrillas, most of the shipment to Philippine army officer turned rebel Victor Corpuz (now a sometime TMT guest writer) was intercepted by the coast guard. Marcos must have been going crazy thinking why was our US ally arming the communist rebels, which must have been the clever intent of the plot. Eventually the Chinese scrapped the idea and disposed of the remaining cloned US rifles in the 1980’s by exporting them as surplus parts, China’s state arsenal Norinco, sold them off mostly to US auto-ordinance, so evidence of them are out there.

Likewise it makes us wonder why JPE and FVR Ramboys were secretly armed with Israeli made Gallil assault rifles and Uzis acquired years before the 1986 EDSA people power revolution, meaning they planned and trained for a coup and stockpiled their guns from secret sources rather than from the gov’t arsenal or else Marcos would learn they were planning a coup.

The Supreme Court has already released their rule over the Marcos Burial issue on the basis of legal grounds. Then why this YELLOW SHIT Journalist kept on hammering President Duterte and its supporters? Can she not raise her protest to the Supreme Court for as long as she likes? There’s no one will bother here if she’ll do it. Go ahead girl and RAGE.PROTEST and UNITE ALL THE YELLOW SHIT! We the Government Supporters will only be watching your melodramatic scene on the corner while playing video games.

I noticed two two types of journalists on the Manila Times, those like you and Saguisag who placed legitimacy of your arguments on your nostalgia as militants and joining rallies, and the other kind like Tiglao who uncover history’s fascinating hidden unbiased truths through honest research.

I wish some writer would trace the origin of guns during the martial law years to find evidence that Marcos faced great threats that forced him to declare martial law. First the Chinese communists cloned a hundred thousand US M14 rifles intended for RP guerrillas, most of the shipment to Philippine army officer turned rebel Victor Corpuz (now a sometime TMT guest writer) was intercepted by the coast guard. Marcos must have been going crazy thinking why was our US ally arming the communist rebels, which must have been the clever intent of the plot. Eventually the Chinese scrapped the idea and disposed of the remaining cloned US rifles in the 1980’s by exporting them as surplus parts, China’s state arsenal Norinco, sold them off mostly to US auto-ordinance, so evidence of them are out there.

Likewise it makes us wonder why JPE and FVR Ramboys were secretly armed with Israeli made Gallil assault rifles and Uzis acquired years before the 1986 EDSA people power revolution, meaning they planned and trained for a coup and stockpiled their guns from secret sources rather than from the gov’t arsenal or else Marcos would learned they were planning a coup.

Unite. Protest. Rage. The time is now. >> until when are you going to tell this on national media.
How has being a protester helped the common and law abiding citizens of this nation,
Are you not only fondling/stroking your own ego as to say your schools. as if the common people have no brain as to distinguish lies that had been fed.
we’re fed up with the problems that the common tao faced. traffic energy bills lack of sincerity / incompetence people of installed by all these protest you had been saying you went to.

If you check all of these problems that the common tao had been murmuring , the late president marcos already addresses it . IF edsa had been so Right then why are the Filipinos still poor. Protesting isnt the way anymore we had tried that already, may be Marcos was right all Along,

O by the way had you heard Ninoy applied as CIA agent HAcienda Luisita was the Birthplace of the CPP/NPA
and Plaza Miranda was organized by Joma Sison.

You and I had been played. And am I’m tired of been played. Let the DULY Elected PResident do His Job.

The last line of the article is confusing. “Unite. Protest. Rage. The time is now.” What is there to unite over? I can understand a protest against a dog that was buried in the Heroes cemetery years ago. It turned the cemetery into a national disgrace. I can even understand someone’s rage if they dug up the dog and threw the remains in the garbage. But that time has past and it is over and done with. Just go out and have coffee with your friends. Make happy memories you can recall later in life. That is called living a good life.

Hinahamon ni Enrile ang lahat ng liderato ng Liberal Party para magdebate about Martial Law. I believe there should be an open, respectable debate among those who experienced living under the Martial Law, why was it declared. What are the events leading to its declaration. Mas mabuti pa yon kesa protest ng protest. Wala kang matutunan sa protest. Marami sa mga kabataan nagproprotest pero hindi nila naranasan yon. Ganyan din ako noon. We shouted Laban, laban with my professor in Law during Martial Law days. But now, I know better. One thing, forgiveness is for those who were hurt. Madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin.Why did God wants us to forgive because we are also forgiven. Let us learn from the life of Joseph in the Bible, book of Genesis. Philippines claims to be a christian nation, and I hope it is true.

You Wish! As if Marcos will rise from the dead and if he does, Ferdinand will shed light to us all that he is not the only one responsible. Blaming all that happened on Martial law to Marcos is an error of judgement. Furthermore economics decision making tells me, who benefits? What do I gain on airing my strong opinion? What is the downside? Well the downside is instability & that is something my country cannot afford. The trajectory of Philippine economy is rising. The only chance of the organization who wan’t to topple the current government is create unrest even that is temporary. But Never Again!

“If there’s one criticism I agree with, it’s that this is also our fault for having let the Marcoses get away with murder the past 30 years since EDSA 1986.”
This is not your only fault. Your biggest fault is your arrogance in ignoring the ruling of the highest court of the land. I agree that people should unite and protest to be heard, but when the highest court to which the protest submitted their arguments has made a decision, then we should be civilized enough to accept it, for such is democracy.

I agree with your comment. These people who pretend to seek justice and yet blatantly ignore the law if not favorable to them. Such a shame! They are so arrogant thinking that the day will not come when people will wake up to their lies. They will never obtain justice because the only one thing they want is revenge.

I pity the younger generation who were being used and given a biased information. They want this generation to honor those who were victims of Martial Law years by hating the Marcoses.

If she can admit the mistake, she should also admit that she is just encouraging the public to join their protest to add to their numbers. It’s very foolish to think that there are no colors in here, everyone knows who are those making the noises all along.

Strange that you describe the writer as yellow. I confess that I do not read MT that much, those phony journalists, Tiglao and Tatad, being the main reason. But I distinctly remember one or two articles of this lady which are openly unflattering to Aquino.

There are issues which unite the people, the burial of Marcos being one. You are so quick to tack on labels on those you disagree with such that you might actually alienate potential allies on other issues. If you are rabidly pro-Marcos, you just might actually deserve alienation.

If you loyally follow this paper for some time now, you might remember those anti-Duterte sentiments that your favorite writer shared before. Satanic daw si Duterte, remember? That was before Duterte bared his pro-Marcos and pro-GMA leanings. Principled daw?!!!! Haha!

You said you are against “Duterte’s decision to pay a debt of gratitude to (Marcos’) family.” Duterte actually said- and please listen closely this time- that he is merely following the law, and the Supreme Court agreed. You have no legal argument to stand on, period. You say that you are not yellow, but you think like them so what difference does it make? “(Marcos’ days have) already been historically written and proven to have been a dark time for our nation and its freedoms,” you said. This is dogma, not fact. Who wrote this history and where is the proof, and by proof I mean facts? The fact is there was an armed challenge to the state so of course there will be casualties when the state performs its bounden duty to defend itself, yes? The fact ( and I know how inconvenient the facts are to you yellows so Im sorry if I have to hurt your feelings here) that you admit its your fault that you guys have allowed Marcos to “get away with murder” points to the possibility that your charges against Marcos have no basis at all (Goebbel’s Law: Make your lies big and keep repeating them), add the fact that you were given 30 years to do it makes that possibility very strong, yes? As for in-fighting within your anti-burial forces, that is par for the course in any political undertaking. There is in-fighting within the Republicans in America, intramurals within the Liberal party and believe it or not, also in the KBL of Marcos during his time. Rather than a strategy, its the true nature of politics. Why should Duterte and the Marcoses bank on your splintering when it would be infinitely advantageous to just lump all of you together as the exhumation activists that you all are the better to paint you as the savages and fools that the entire nation must come together to eliminate like zombies( except you of course). If you want to understand better the breadth, scope and depth of the Marcosian politics that you face, ask yourself why you call it Marcosian when you are the ones threatening to exhume the man’s remains. That is unChristian, yes? But very Catholic, no? It is said that you may deceive other people all the time but never, ever deceive yourself. This is what happens when you let your emotions think for you. So my dear, think, do not feel, hard as that may be for the hate-filled yellow cult that you say you don’t belong to, but love to join if its an anti-Marcos rally. Will you just as passionately attend a mass of the Iglesia ni Kristo if you are not one of them? I didn’t think so, and this is what I mean by self-deception. You still have a long way to go in your journey through the gray area, but keep going, Katrina. If its any consolation, I follow all your articles, word for word.

why blame the bereaved family for the doings of the late father? i don’t understand why you people are so fixated with the late fm while the implementors and executors of martial law are still alive and most likely have the direct operational supervision of such?

It’s really funny Sam. This author is saying to join any rally as often as they can as if there’s nothing more to do in life than to go there. Just go, go na lang. Unite, Protest, Rage pa kuno. The time is not now, ayaw pang sabihin, every time that the law is not on our side!!

That crazy president duterte will protect all your rights to that stupid rally. But he has two questions for you, and if you answer in negative, he will gladly step down.
1. Was he a soldier?
2. Was he a president?